The United National Front (UNF) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have both raised protests in Parliament against the appointment of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Opposition Leader.

By Sandun Jayawardana

The United National Front (UNF) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have both raised protests in Parliament against the appointment of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Opposition Leader.

Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella claimed that Mahinda Rajapaksa was no longer an MP since he has resigned from the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and obtained membership of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). The SLPP however, is not represented in Parliament and therefore Mr Rajapaksa can no longer be an MP as he had resigned from the party from which he was elected to Parliament from, he argued.

TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said a Parliamentary Select Committee should be established to ascertain whether those who resigned from the SLFP had gained membership of the SLPP or are still members of the UPFA. He claimed 'strangers' in the chambers must leave. He asked the Speaker not to take a decision on the Opposition Leader post until then.